The Chief Minister's Office of Madhya Pradesh announced on Saturday, June 20, 2026, that Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar visited Shani Ghat in Ujjain to review ongoing development works being carried out in preparation for Simhastha-2028. The official post stated: 'मुख्यमंत्री डॉ. मोहन यादव एवं केंद्रीय मंत्री श्री मनोहर लाल खट्टर ने उज्जैन स्थित शनि घाट पहुंचकर सिंहस्थ-2028 की तैयारियों के अंतर्गत प्रगतिरत विकास कार्यों का अवलोकन किया।' ('Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar reached Shani Ghat in Ujjain and observed the development works progressing under the preparations for Simhastha-2028.')

Context

Ujjain, one of the four sacred sites of the Kumbh Mela cycle, hosts the Simhastha congregation every twelve years along the banks of the Shipra river. Shani Ghat is among the key riverfront ghats used for ritual bathing and religious ceremonies during the event. The joint inspection by the state's Chief Minister and a Union Cabinet Minister signals active central-state coordination on the scale of preparations underway.

Policy Backdrop

Madhya Pradesh has a precedent of undertaking large-scale infrastructure upgrades ahead of Simhastha editions. Ahead of the 2016 Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain, the state government executed wide-ranging works covering ghats, roads, and sanitation facilities. The current preparatory cycle for Simhastha-2028 follows that template, with the state prioritising Shipra riverfront development and urban connectivity as part of a broader heritage and religious tourism strategy. Manohar Lal Khattar, a senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Haryana who now serves as a Union Cabinet Minister, has been involved in central-state coordination on urban and pilgrimage infrastructure. His presence at the Ujjain inspection underscores the importance the central government attaches to the event's readiness.

Stakeholders and Impact

Simhastha is expected to draw millions of pilgrims to Ujjain, making the quality of ghat infrastructure, sanitation, crowd management, and road connectivity critical to the event's safe conduct. Ujjain residents are also direct stakeholders, as the development works transform the city's civic landscape in the years leading up to the congregation. Similar preparatory drives have been observed in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand ahead of their respective Kumbh editions, reflecting a national pattern of accelerated pilgrimage-city investment before major religious gatherings. Dr. Mohan Yadav, who became Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in December 2023, has positioned cultural and religious heritage development as a key pillar of his administration's agenda.

What's Next

Further central-state review meetings on project funding and timelines are expected as 2028 approaches. Phased completion reports covering ghats, parking facilities, and sanitation infrastructure at Ujjain are likely to follow. The pace of work at Shani Ghat and other riverfront sites will be closely watched as a barometer of overall Simhastha readiness. With the congregation still two years away, the inspection marks an early but significant milestone in what will be a sustained infrastructure push across the city.